Mr Willan, owner of ND Willan Building Contractors, spent a further £85,000 on renovations.

He said: “We came to Sheringham one day for fish and chips and when we were at the Crown Inn we saw it and thought it would make an awesome place.”

The block was originally up for £35,000-£40,000 and there was an intense bidding war.

Mr Willan added: “After I bought it news cameras were in our faces. It was a bit of a shock. When we got married we had a honeymoon at a B&B in Comer and after I bought the toilet it was coming up to our anniversary and I said, ‘We are going upmarket and going to Sheringham.’”

He described the project as a “labour of love” and added: “At one point we thought ‘what are we doing?’. But nowhere has got views like this.”

An extra metre has been added to the roof height for a bedroom; the former ladies’ toilets area is the kitchen; and former mens’ toilets area is a bedroom. The property, which was not damaged by the storm surge, will be open on April 5 between 10.30am and 5pm for Help for Heroes.

Mr and Mrs Willan’s son Matthew, 28, is a sergeant for the Royal Anglian Regiment. Their other son David, 29, is a partner in the building business and daughter Jessica is an architect technician.

Do you know of an interesting home conversion? Email sophie.wyllie@archant.co.uk

You currently have JavaScript disabled, functionality will be limited

Sheringham toilet transformation

shares

Nick Willan at his new holiday home Wee Retreat, on Sheringham promenade, which was a former toilet block.
PHOTO: ANTONY KELLY

Nick Willan at his new holiday home Wee Retreat, on Sheringham promenade, which was a former toilet block.
PHOTO: ANTONY KELLY

Nick Willan at his new holiday home Wee Retreat, on Sheringham promenade, which was a former toilet block.
PHOTO: ANTONY KELLY

Nick Willan at his new holiday home Wee Retreat, on Sheringham promenade, which was a former toilet block.
PHOTO: ANTONY KELLY

Nick Willan at his new holiday home Wee Retreat, on Sheringham promenade, which was a former toilet block.
PHOTO: ANTONY KELLY

Nick Willan at his new holiday home Wee Retreat, on Sheringham promenade, which was a former toilet block.
PHOTO: ANTONY KELLY

Nick Willan at his new holiday home Wee Retreat, on Sheringham promenade, which was a former toilet block.
PHOTO: ANTONY KELLY

Nick Willan at his new holiday home Wee Retreat, on Sheringham promenade, which was a former toilet block.
PHOTO: ANTONY KELLY

Nick Willan at his new holiday home Wee Retreat, on Sheringham promenade, which was a former toilet block.
PHOTO: ANTONY KELLY

Nick Willan at his new holiday home Wee Retreat, on Sheringham promenade, which was a former toilet block.
PHOTO: ANTONY KELLY

Nick Willan at his new holiday home Wee Retreat, on Sheringham promenade, which was a former toilet block.
PHOTO: ANTONY KELLY

Nick Willan at his new holiday home Wee Retreat, on Sheringham promenade, which was a former toilet block.
PHOTO: ANTONY KELLY

Nick Willan at his new holiday home Wee Retreat, on Sheringham promenade, which was a former toilet block.
PHOTO: ANTONY KELLY

Nick Willan at his new holiday home Wee Retreat, on Sheringham promenade, which was a former toilet block.
PHOTO: ANTONY KELLY

Nick Willan at his new holiday home Wee Retreat, on Sheringham promenade, which was a former toilet block.
PHOTO: ANTONY KELLY

Nick Willan at his new holiday home Wee Retreat, on Sheringham promenade, which was a former toilet block.
PHOTO: ANTONY KELLY

Nick Willan at his new holiday home Wee Retreat, on Sheringham promenade, which was a former toilet block.
PHOTO: ANTONY KELLY

Nick Willan at his new holiday home Wee Retreat, on Sheringham promenade, which was a former toilet block.
PHOTO: ANTONY KELLY

Nick Willan at his new holiday home Wee Retreat, on Sheringham promenade, which was a former toilet block.
PHOTO: ANTONY KELLY

Nick Willan at his new holiday home Wee Retreat, on Sheringham promenade, which was a former toilet block.
PHOTO: ANTONY KELLY

The old Victorian toilet block before it went for auctionn.

The old toilet block on Sheringham promenade before conversion. Photo: NICK WILLAN

The old toilet block on Sheringham promenade before conversion. Photo: NICK WILLAN

A picture of building work on the former Sheringham toilet block. Photo: NICK WILLAN

A picture of building work on the former Sheringham toilet block. Photo: NICK WILLAN

A picture of building work on the former Sheringham toilet block. Photo: NICK WILLAN

The newly-renovated Wee Retreat, close to completion.

The newly-renovated Wee Retreat, close to completion. Photo: NICK WILLAN

The old toilet block on Sheringham promenade. Photo: NICK WILLAN

‘We are going upmarket and going to Sheringham.’
Says it all - you may think he's potty but he knows what he is talking about. Perhaps we can have a picture of the 'Wee Retreat' in the EDP most days instead of Cromer Pier.